Book picks similar to
Gumble's Yard by John Rowe Townsend


fiction
5-1-5-3
abusive-adults
challenging-themes

Vlad the Drac


Ann Jungman - 1982
    Not only is the vampire very tiny, he is also a vegetarian with dreams of starring in horror films... Vlad persuades Judy and Paul to smuggle him back to London but the children decide to keep him a secret in case the vampire gets put in a museum or the zoo. Still a vampire left on his own all day can get terribly bored and find all kinds of mischief to pass the time. A very funny book that has stood the test of time and an entertaining look at the problems facing an outsider.

Goggle-Eyes


Anne Fine - 1989
    Particularly when there's a danger they might turn into new and unwanted stepfathers...

The Peppermint Pig


Nina Bawden - 1975
    He'd cost Mother a shilling, but somehow his great naughtiness and cleverness kept Poll and Theo cheerful, even though it was one of the most difficult years of their lives.

The Secret of the Old Clock


Carolyn Keene - 1930
    To the surprise of many, the Topham family will inherit wealthy Josiah Crowley's fortune, instead of deserving relatives and friends who were promised inheritances. Nancy determines that a clue to a second will might be found in an old clock Mr. Crowley had owned and she seeks to find the timepiece. Her search not only tests her keen mind, but also leads her into a thrilling adventure.

Brendon Chase


B.B. - 1944
    A classic story of survival and adventure from the author of The Little Grey Men.

The Secret of the Blue Glass


Tomiko Inui - 1957
    There, on the shelves next to the old books, live the Little People, a tiny family who were once brought from England to Japan by a beloved nanny. Since then, each generation of Moriyama-family children has inherited the responsibility of filling the blue glass with milk to feed the Little People and it's now Yuri's turn. The little girl dutifully fulfils her task but the world around the Moriyama family is changing. Japan is caught in the whirl of what will soon become World War II, turning her beloved older brother into a fanatic nationalist and dividing the family for ever. Sheltered in the garden and the house, Yuri is able to keep the Little People safe, and they do their best to comfort Yuri in return, until one day owing to food restrictions milk is in shorter supply...From the Trade Paperback edition.

Max Kowalski Didn't Mean It


Susie Day - 2019
    He loves their trips to the fair and Dad's no-nonsense attitude when Max gets in trouble at school. But everything changes when mysterious boxes and even more mysterious wads of cash start turning up at their house, and when Dad disappears it's up to Max to look after his three sisters until Dad comes home.Determined to keep the family together, Max takes his sisters to a remote village in Wales, where he's convinced that no one will find them. What Max doesn't expect to find is new friends, new questions, and a very old legend. Just how easy is it to look after three kids with no grown ups around? Where did Dad go, really? And what are the whispers Max keeps hearing, of a golden dragon, asleep under the mountain...?

The Nature of the Beast


Janni Howker - 1985
    English teenager Bill Coward finds himself losing control of his life when the mill where his father works is shut down and a mysterious beast begins making savage attacks on local livestock.

Tales of Wonder Every Child Should Know


Kate Douglas Wiggin - 2002
    You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

A Book for Kids


C.J. Dennis - 1921
    You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Rebecca's World


Terry Nation - 1975
    But events take a dramatic turn for the better (or worse) when she finds herself transported to a distant planet whose people are terrorized by jelly-like monsters called Ghosts. Rebecca's World is a marvellously gripping (and frequently comic) adventure story, with a memorable cast of characters. A story that will be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Hello, Aurora


Anne-Cath. Vestly - 1966
    Aurora's mother is a lawyer and her graduate-student father stays home to care for her and baby Socrates -- a situation that raises eyebrows among the neighbors and leads to some embarrassing situations for Aurora, who must answer the nosy questions of ladies at Socrates' baby clinic and is puzzled by her new friends' scenario for playing ""Mothers and Fathers,"" Obviously, this is a consciousness-raiser, and besides being liberated, Mother and Father are the very epitome of sweet reason. But Aurora's daily adventures -- a bungled trip to the supermarket, confrontation with the scary boy from upstairs, a visit from Granny -- have a comfy universality that make the lesson a friendly one.

That Was Then, This Is Now


S.E. Hinton - 1971
    Now things are changing. Bryon's growing up, spending a lot of time with girls, and thinking seriously about who he wants to be. Mark still just lives for the thrill of the moment. The two are growing apart - until Bryon makes a shocking discovery about Mark. Then Bryon faces a terrible decision - one that will change both of their lives forever.

The Lion Tamer's Daughter


Peter Dickinson - 1997
    Are they twins separated at birth? Or is something more sinister afoot? It's a race against time and destiny to discover the truth, for if the two meet before the allotted time, who knows what their fate might be?"Do you know what a doppelganger is? We did a play about one four years ago... the hero had this double who seemed to be some kind of fiend, who stalked him, and if ever they came face to face the hero was going to die ... I know it sounds stupid as soon as you say it, but..."

Kensuke's Kingdom


Michael Morpurgo - 1999
    But he soon realises there is someone close by, someone who is watching over him and helping him to stay alive. Following a close-run battle between life and death after being stung by a poisonous jelly fish, the mysterious someone--Kensuke--allows Michael into his world and they become friends, teaching and learning from each other, until the day of separation becomes inevitable.Morpurgo here spins a yarn which gently captures the adventurous elements one would expect from a desert-island tale, but the real strength lies in the poignant and subtle observations of friendship, trust and, ultimately, humanity. Beautifully illustrated by Michael Foreman, Kensuke's Kingdom is a stylish, deceptively simple and magical book that will effortlessly capture the heart and imagination of anyone who reads it, ensuring that Morpurgo continues to stand tall amid the ranks of classic children's authors. (Ages 9 and over) --Susan Harrison